AI-assisted research summary: A county commissioners court in a county with more than 2 million people may hire special counsel.
Sec. 89.001. SPECIAL COUNSEL IN POPULOUS COUNTIES. (a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of more than two million may employ an attorney as special counsel. (b) The special counsel may be employed to: (1) represent the county in any suit brought by or against the county; (2) prepare necessary documents and otherwise assist the court, the county engineer, and other county employees in the acquisition of rights-of-way for the county and for state highways; or (3) represent the county in condemnation proceedings for the acquisition of rights-of-way for highways and other purposes for which the county has the right of eminent domain. (c) The county attorney shall select the special counsel. If the county does not have a county attorney, the district attorney or criminal district attorney shall select the special counsel. The selecting officer shall determine the terms and duration of employment of the special counsel, subject to the court's approval. Acts 1987, 70th Leg.,ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, Sec. 85, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Renumbered from Sec. 81.023 by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 13.03(b), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1094 (H.B. 2120), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1094 (H.B. 2120), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 127, eff. September 1, 2023.